The National tribune., 1887-08-25
ST. LOUIS.
Sketch Of The City and Some Of lis
Attractions.
n Royal Welcome Awaiting the
Grand Army.
BY CHARLES W. KNAPP.

Of guests il will present picture OF municipal
nttractiveness Tor which few wIll lie prepared.
Thestranger who visits The city Tor the hrsi time
will perhaps. be surprised 10 find 40 little re-
calling the past aud 50 much denoting lusty
factor of the progressive present A growing,
vigorous city, ST. Louis has its hopeful, san
luine ewes on the rising sun OF tomorrow and
wastes few meditatiye glances on the vanished
yesterday.
The common conception Of those who know
ST. Louis by repute alone, is of a city hearing
still the marked impress OF its early French
era and in most characteristics thoroughly
Southern. Yet quarter Of a century ago there
were remaining few reminders Of the French
village, while within that period ST. Louis has
ceased 10 show the stamp OF either race or sec
tion, becoming
COMPLETELY COSMOPOLITAN.
To-day ID is scarcely more southern city than
81 was French town la 1860. With popula-
tion OF the same complex nationality found In
all the large cities of the country, counting
quite as many people Of Northern as of South
ern birth, infused with the same healthiul
stream of foreign blood from all the Nations of
Europe, ST. Louis is not TO be distinguished
in this respect from New York or Boston, Chi
CagO or Cincinnati. lt rs neither a Northern
nor a southern city, but thoroughly American.
This salient fact dawns quickly on the WIS.,
tor, whose vain search dlsclOses none OF the
typical characteristics OF the expected Southern
city. Like results follow like causes. PeOpled
as are the other leading cities, there is the same
busting activity 10 be observed IN the pushing
crowds ON the ST. Louis streets, the same in
domitable energy to be read in the magnificent
ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS
which wall these streets. Chicago, accepted ex-
emplar of American enterprise, Oft-trnmpeted
marvel Of brilliant progress, can present no
greater or more impressive works OF munich
Y.ua Gsspa MT ISL ri an
the banks of the Mississippi From the
marvellous pathway of steel spanning the
broad river through miles of towering
business palaces, past the most charming resi-
dence quarter in any city in the country, TO
the perfect rainbow fringe Of parks which
stretch a semi-circe of unequaled beauty
around the whole city, St. Louis presents a
panorama Of unbrOken aud continuous interest.
Measuring 20 miles on its water front and p
miles along its circling western boundary,
seven miles from the river at its point Of great
est divergence, st. Louis counts within the
embracing limits OF the great ellipse 62l square
miles OF corporate territory. Here is plenty of
room for nye times the 100000 people whose
homes aud workshops
MAKE UP THE PRESENT CITY.
Looking at st. Louis from the Illinois bank
of the river, the first glance is apt TO be dis
appointing. Spread out before the eye, north,
west and south, TO the very walls OF the hOrl-
zOn. lies great, but from this point of view
scarcely attractive city. Six days of every
week thousands of manufactures belch black
clouds Of coal smoke, which hang in a heavy
pail over the whole city. almost touching the
steeples, turrcts and taller roofs The fore
front of business structures, forming the city's
visible face along the Levee line, is not lm-
posing. Almost exactly as II was 40 years
ago. il shows more of the ST. Louis of the past
than could be gathered from all the rest of the
city. Quite nine-tenths OF the standing build
ings were erected in the first half of the cen
fury. and not dozen additions have been made
in 80 years. For ali these years st. Louis has
been steadily. and latterly swiftly as well,
PULLING AWAY FROM THE RIVER.
Thirty years ago the Levee view of St. Louis
was very different. Then the river was almost
the only channel OF commerce and the Levoe
was the great, throbbing artery Of the city's
active life. Railroad development had barely
begun, and the river Coated thousands where
the tracks of steel carried hundreds OF tons Of
freight A hundred and more steamboats, could
be seen at the wharf at once. and vast piles of
merchandise packed the Levee for a mile or
more OF its length. With crowds of busy men
aud hurryiug drays, bustling scene oil activity
was there unlike anything to be witnessed
anywhere else.
This busy scene has vanished completely.
No misses of merchandise Obstruct the Leyee
now, aud rarely more than a dozen boats can
be seen AT the wharf. Although the river still
carries an enormous trade il is but mite be-
side the mountainous traffic of the city borne
by the railways This and the improved
methods OF loading freight into the steamboats,
with the introduction of
sWHrT-RUNKING PACKET LINES,
have combined TO work such revolution IN
the surroundings of the Lcvee that the bushes.
formerly conferred upon its front has followed
the altered order Of the new era creeping al
the hall 70 localities where the railroads are
more accessible.
Token Of this revolution and evidence of The
city's achieved success in the new field OF de-
velopment stretches above the broad bosom Of
Che river q triple-arched arm of steel, hold ms
3n It's firm clasp the whole railroad system
OF the other side. symbol, too, is this grand
Iron highway, leading straight TO its pulsinl
heart OF the warm hospitality the city protier
every guest. Much has been written Of a.,
eonderul Eads Bridge, but not more than i
fuly warrants. This engineering marvel il
admittedly triumph Of science almost without
parallel la lie line.
ST. Louis found the genius 10 conceive and
the unconquerable will 10 execute this grca
work among It's own people: for James B. Fad
grew from bOyhOod 20 manhood in the city III
riprned fame has brought SO much honor. NJ
Rrander monument 90 his memory could b.
asked than the noble and imposing structure
eKaciion OF utiiiya and
EVERY REQUIREMENT OF BEAUTY.
This rare union is the distinguishing character
istc Of the Lads Bridge Ii is as complete
picture AS II an artist hand had drawn its line
with sole regard 10 the canOns OF beauty, with
out thought oi the more iuutcria objects whcl
evoked IL creation. NJ bridge OF lie great slz
anywhere in the world presents 20 the eye s
attractive aud pleasing design.
The three great arches span the river n
graceful sweep 50 perfect Ia every proportion
81 Is d iiilcnh 10 realize the vast Magnitude O
The massive structure. The central arch il ~
icot from pier 20 per, and each side ar
spans OF DO lcei, either exceeding in dimCu
sOns ell other arches ln the world. To carr
the piers through the mighty waters an
tIeacher0ns sands OF the Mississippi, Capt. lad
had 10 invent original processes oil work, Will
from his own creative Rehius came also I'd
bold details OF the superslTucture those pier
support, the only steel arch bridge i'm eXistenc,
Rival Engineers predicted failure, but TIA
great bridge, costing, with its connecting tui
ned, $is,0OJOO0 stands to conlouud thei
prophecies, an enduring monument 10 It's gres
architect
TOR COMING CENTURIES.
From the bridge trains fash three quarter
of mile under the busiest streets Of the cit
% the Union depot, in their tunnel passag
piercing the very core of the city. Her
as the common terminus Of 20 different raj
roads % the greatest railroad center OF ia
world. Nowhere else do SO many separai
trunk lines concentrate nj no other depot a
30 many through trains arrive and depart dali,